It is official, the 2023-2024 school year has begun! Only two weeks have passed and already so much has happened. Students reconnected with old friends, started new classes, played sports, and even joined new clubs. While very fast-paced, the first week of the new school year was filled with lots of opportunities to transition back to going to school and having fun doing it.
“It was really great to see my friends again. My first day was very good and I liked all of my teachers,” sophomore Maya Haugen said.
The first day of the 2023-2024 school year served as a way for many students who had not seen each other in three months to chat and catch up. Most classes began discussing syllabuses, expectations for the school year, and new policies. One of which is that in some departments, such as science, the retake policy has changed so that students can only retake up to 80% instead of 90%.
For seniors, however, the schedule was very different. The entire senior class awoke and got to the football field at 6:30 a.m. in order to watch the sunrise together. Afterwards, they ate doughnuts provided by SPA and listened to speeches by Principal Dr. Steiner and Vice Principal Mr. Aman.
“It was a really nice way to spend time with my friends and enjoy each other’s company before our last first day of school. I have never had anything like that and it was even more special because it was our senior year,” senior Elsa Throldahl said.
Two days later, on Thursday morning during Spartan Hour, was the Club Fair. All activities from Youth in Government to the Gardening Club were available for students to sign up for. These clubs will have their first meetings on the 19th and 26th of September, depending on their designated week.
“I signed up for German Club and Quiz Bowl because they looked really fun. There were so many different options [to choose between],” junior Stewart Royal said.
Lastly, Friday was centered around the football game later that night. The theme was pinkout for school and the game, representing the charity “Tackle Cancer”. Pink shirts were sold in the cafeteria in order to raise money and students proudly wore their rose the whole day. Before the football game Friday night, Student Senate held a tailgate, filled with all the lawn games, snacks, and Domino’s pizza one could want.
“I was happy to see everyone dressed-up [in pink] for the football game and showing their school spirit,” senior and student senator Lizzie Uradnik said.
The Orono Spartan Football Team would go on to dominate Big Lake 40-0 that night.
While filled with many traditions, the first week of school is always unique because of the students who participate every year and add their own spin onto things. Hopefully this will continue long into the future.
